Puréeing carrots isn’t just about making them easier to swallowing; it’s about layering flavors to enhance your loved one’s meals. Carrots are an easy food to make a smooth purée from and are a comfort food for many people.
Carrots are nutritious, inexpensive, readily available and last a long time in the refrigerator. They are easy to prepare. For those reasons, this vegetable is a win-win in my book!
Let’s look at creative ways we can elevate the humble carrot into side dishes that both you and your loved one will enjoy. These recipes are great to serve at a mealtime with family or friends so everyone is eating the same foods, enhancing a comfortable and social experience for the loved one requiring a puréed diet.
1. Sweet Carrots
Let’s start by adding a touch of sweetness to your puréed carrots. Although carrots have a natural sweetness to them, they can be enhanced easily and elevated with a touch of additional sweeteners.
For adding sweetness to many puréed foods , you are going to want to keep honey and maple syrup stocked in the pantry.
If you don’t happen to have either of those on hand, it is easy to make your own brown sugar simple syrup by dissolving in a saucepan over medium heat equal parts brown sugar and water. You are going to bring to a boil and immediately remove from the heat and cool.
This syrup will make a rich caramel or toffee like sauce to add to your puréed dishes for sweetness. You can store this easy and versatile sweetener in the refrigerator to use in your hot drinks, baking, and as a substitute for maple syrup.
2. Savory Carrots
Savory defined is something full of flavor, delicious and tasty. Savory food has a salty or spicy flavor rather than a sweet one. Savory food is full-flavored.
Instead of plain puréed carrots, let’s add layers of rich and complex flavors achieved through use of herb and spices.
Do a quick search online and you’ll find many suggested spices and combinations of spices that pair well to compliment carrots. Common spices include salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary, parsley, cumin , thyme, cinnamon , ginger and nutmeg.
I tend to look at several recipes when I am planning to cook a particular vegetable or food to see what spices are often added in the recipes and then I search in my own cupboards and use what I have on hand.
3. Tangy Carrots
Adding tanginess to foods enhances their flavors by providing a contrasting element of acidity or brightness. It can make simple dishes more complex and appealing to the palate.
Additionally, research suggests that tangy flavors can stimulate the appetite, especially for individuals with a deceased sense of taste.
Tanginess can be achieved through various ingredients, including citrus fruits, vinegars, fermented foods and certain herbs or spices.
a. Citrus Fruits: Fresh lemon, lime, or orange juice can add a bright and tangy flavor to dishes. Zest from citrus fruits can also provide a concentrated burst of tanginess.
b. Vinegars: Various types of vinegar, such as balsamic, apple cider, red wine or white wine vinegar, can be used to add acidity and tanginess to dressings, sauces and marinades.
c. Fermented Foods: Ingredients like pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt contain natural tanginess which can be incorporated into dishes for flavor complexity.
d. Tart Fruits: Tart fruits like green apples, cranberries and sour cherries can impart tanginess when added to recipes, either in their natural form or as juices or sauces.
e. Herbs and Spices: Certain herbs and spices, such as vinegar-based hot sauces and mustards can contribute tanginess while also adding depth of flavor to dishes.
4. Creamy Carrots
This one surprised me! I had never thought of adding milk to carrots, but oh I am so glad I did! For a velvety smooth texture, add a splash of cream or coconut milk to your puréed carrots. This adds a richness that is incredibly satisfying to eat.
Think of other dairy products you could add to get an extra layer of creaminess.
Experiment with these dairy additions to find the perfect balance of creaminess and flavor in your carrot recipes: cream or half-and-half; yogurt; sour cream; cream cheese; butter and grated cheeses.
3 Creative Ways to Flavor Up Your Puréed Carrots
Recipe # 1:
Honey Roasted Carrots with Garlic and Onion
Equipment
- 1 Blender
Materials
- 1 pound carrots
- 1 medium onion
- 1 head garlic
- 2 Tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 2 Tbsp honey
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp parsley, dried
- 1-3 tbsp broth or water add liquid as needed for desired smooth texture
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉
- Wash carrots, peel and cut into uniform strips and place on roasting sheet
- Peel onion and cut into quarters and place on roasting sheet
- cut one head of garlic in half, leaving the peel on but removing the inner stem. Place the garlic in a piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and wrap into a pocket. Place on roasting sheet.
- Drizzle oil , salt and pepper over the carrots and onions
- Bake for 30-60 minutes. Check and stir every 15 minutes. Remove onions when cooked. After 30 minutes, drizzle honey over carrots and add dried parsley to carrots and bake until tender. Bake garlic until tender (garlic generally takes a total of 45-60 minutes).
- Remove from oven and cool vegetables. Remove skins from the garlic. Place all vegetables in the blender and add 1 tablespoon at a time of broth, vegetable or chicken, or water as needed. Blend until smooth consistency.
- Serve warm with a drizzle of honey on top.
Recipe #2:
Sweet Ginger Carrots
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots
- 2 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp ginger
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Peel and wash carrots. Slice into equal size pieces. Steam or boil until tender enough to mash easily with a fork. Drain carrots, reserving some of the water.
- In frying pan, melt butter and add all ingredients . Stir to combine.
- Add carrots and simmer on medium heat. Stir until heated through.
- Remove carrots from heat and cool.
- Add carrots and sauce to the blender. Add reserved water one tablespoon at a time to the blender until desired smooth consistency.
- Serve warm with melted butter on top.
Recipe #3:
Creamy Puréed Carrots with Cheese
Equipment
- food processor
- blender
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots
- 1 medium onion
- 3 tbsp butter
- ¼ tsp thyme
- ⅛ tsp garlic powder
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup milk (can substitute cream or half and half)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Peel and wash carrots. Cut into equal size pieces. Boil or steam until tender. Drain carrots. Carrots should be mashable with a fork with no hard pieces.
- Peel onion and purée in food processor until smooth. Remove any chunks.
- Melt butter in frying pan over medium heat. Add puréed onions and bring to a simmer. Add spices and cook an additional 10 minutes on low heat.
- Add dairy items and stir until cheese has melted.
- Add carrots and simmer on low for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
- Add carrots and cream sauce to blender and blend until desired smooth consistency. Add additional milk if more liquid is needed.
- Serve warm . Enjoy!
Conclusion:
Puréeing carrots opens up a world of possibilities for caregivers looking to provide nourishing and delicious meals for their loved ones. There’s a puréed carrot recipe out there to suit every taste. Don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with different flavor combinations. Best of all, carrots prepared in puréed fashion, are enjoyed by everyone.
Check out video on Youtube! https://youtu.be/ZGRtebuU-BQ